Central African Republic wants to deploy a military base of the Russian Federation with the possibility of using the contingent in other countries

The authorities of the Central African Republic want to host a Russian military base for 5,000-10,000 troops, said CAR Ambassador to Russia Dodonu-Punagaza. The Republic intends, if necessary, to use the contingent of the base in other countries.

Mr. Dodonu-Punagaza in an interview “Izvestia” called the hoisting of the Russian flag at the former French base in the CAR a sign that the country “finally kicked out the French” and that “now Russia will be together with the CAR.” As the ambassador said, he expressed his desire to place a military base to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the same issue was discussed by the Chairman of the Parliament of the Central African Republic Simplis Sarangi during his visit to Moscow.

“You know, when I arrived and met Shoigu for the first time, I told him that instructors are good. Therefore, our country was the first in Africa to resist the French. But now we need a Russian military base with 5,000 to 10,000 soldiers. At the same time, they could, if necessary, be used in other countries. We asked for this,” Mr. Dodonu-Punagaza said.

Russian Ambassador to the republic Alexander Bikantov said in February that the CAR military had defeated most of the illegal armed groups in the country with the support of Russian instructors. According to him, the CAR authorities believe that Russia was able to prevent the violent overthrow of power and a new round of civil war. According to Mr. Bikantov, 1.8 thousand Russian instructors work in the republic.

Leonid Uvarchev